Catch



Oct; 19', 1948. E. M. BORCHERS 2,451,798

CATCH Filed Nov. 10, 1944 ar/flfomkelv Q fig. M4, 04%.

Patented Oct. 19, 1948 UNITED STATES ENT OFFICE CATCH v EartMBorclicrs-hockforfi m assignmto-Americanflabinetdlardware Corporation, Rockford; Illinois, Rockford, 111., a; corporation of Illinois Application-November 10, 1944,. SeriaiN'o. 562.766

' comm. (Cl. 292-18) The invention pertains" to catches of the type intended for use in releasably holding-cabinet doors and the like in closed position; and the primary object of the inventionis to-provide'a catch which is capable of'quick and easy installation or removal.

Another object is to provide a catch of the character aforesaid which is-rel-easably held in position bymeans of resilient retaining elements.

A general object is to provide a catch embodying the aforesaid advantageous features which may be manufactured economically and-which is exceptionally durable.

The objects of-the invention thus generally stated, together with other and ancillary advantages, are attained by the" construction and arrangement shown by way of illustration in'the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of myimproved catch shown in relation to a mounting plate apertured to receive the-catch.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view showing the catch applied to a double pan door in operative relation'to a strike onan-associated door frame.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the catch. I

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing thecatch in relation to a mountingplate.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentaryperspective viewof the catch installed in its mountingplate; the view being taken from the rear side ofthe plate.

Fig. 6 is a view similar-toFig. 2 but illustrating an equalizing action of the strike engaging jaws when the catch and itsstrike are not accurately alined, the jaws being shown in section.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the applicationof the: catchto a wooden door. 1

In the present preferred embodiment of the invention, the catch comprises generally, a U- shaped frame 8 having spaced parallel side plates 9 and 9' and a front plate Hlintegral with the side plates. Within such-frame is a pair of strike engaging jaws H pivotally mounted upon a pivot pin l2 extending between and fastened at opposite ends in the side plates 9 and 9'. Mounted onthe pin I2 is a torsion spring l3 urging the jaws ll into position to receive'and yieldably retain a strike 14,- the front plate H] of the frame having a hole l-5'for thepassage of the strike.

Since the" catch is especially" designed for mounting in double pan doors, the inner pan'of the door D will in most instances constitute the mounting plate; As shown in Fig. 1, the inner pan i6 is formed with a square hole I! dimensioned to receive the frame 8 and more particularlythe side plates 9 and 9' thereof. Thus the lengtlr'of the hole corresponds to the width of the sideplates of the frame and the width of the hole corresponds to the lateral spacing of the side plates. To provide abutment means for limiting movement of the frame through the hole H, the front plate is elongated to form end portions'bearing against the outer face of the mountingplate at opposite side edges of the hole.

For, the purpose of disengageably retaining the catch" in its mounting plate the side plates 9 and 9- areformed with a plurality of resilient detent elements so constructed and arranged as to engage with the mounting plate at the edges of thehole l1 therein when the front plate is forced flat against the outer face of the mounting plate. Such resilient detent elements are in the present preferred embodiment of the invention comprised of'two pairs of fingers 18, I8 and IS, IS, o'nepair constituting a positive stop means for coaction with the extended ends of the front plate to positively hold the catch against movement transversely of the opening, and the other pairfrictionallyengaging with the-edges of the hole to, assist in retaining the catch in posttionand hold it against shifting laterally relative to themounting plate.

The positive detent elements or fingers I8, I8 are respectively formedon the side plates 9 and 9' and in-general at diagonally opposite corners of the frame. In formingthe fingers i8 and [8, the side plates 9 and 8' are formed with slots l8a shown clearly in Fig. l and the fingers bent somewhat outwardly. The extreme forward ends of th'edingers are disposed in a vertical plane spaced rearwardly from the front face of the plate ill a distance corresponding to the thickness of the .mounting'plate, and these ends being offset form abutments for engaging-with the inner face of the mounting plate at the edge of the'opening i1, thereby positively holding the catch against removal. It will be-seen that in bending the fingers outwardly cam surfaces are formed which engage with the edges of the opening in the mounting plate and forcethe fingers inwardly as the catch is thrust home.

Like the. fingers l8 and I8, the frictional detent ele nents or fingers l9 and I9 are respectivelymade integral with the plates 9 and 9 and located at the'other corners of the supporting supporting frame against lateral shifting move-' ments.

The strike engaging jaws II have their rear end portions constructed to provide yokes and 20' pivotally mounted in nested relation upon the 4 feature of special importance is the ease with which the catch may be installed, since the catch may be securely fastened in position simply by pressing the frame through a. hole in the mounting plate dimensioned to correspond with the cross sectional shape of the frame at a point rearwardly of the front plate. Through the use of both positive and frictional detent elements,

the catch is held firmly not only against movement in a front to rear direction but also against lateral shifting movement. When it is desired to remove the catch from its supporting plate, the

" positive elements may be easily pried out of holdpin 12. Each of the jaws is made from sheet metal and comprises an arm 2| formed with ears 22 integral with opposite side edges of the arm and apertured to receive the pivot pin l2. For-' wardly of the ears 22 the arms are suitably shaped to form opposite jaw portions 23 which are urged toward each other by the torsion spring l3, the latter being coiled about the pivot pin l2 and having opposite end portions 24 engaging the rear ends of the jaw arms 2.]. To limit the approaching movement of the jaw portions 23, bosses 25 and 25 are struck up from the inner sides of the plates 9 and 9 for engagement with stop lugs 26 and 26' on the respective jaws, each of said lugs being formed integral with one of the cars 22 (Fig. 2).

The strike [4 is herein shown as comprising a pin suitably fastened to the frame member 21 of the cabinet 0. The projecting end of the pin has a head 28 providing a tapering shoulder for engagement by the jaws of the catch. Preferably the strike is proportioned so that when received between the jaws, the stop lugs 26 and 26' are held away from their respective bosses 25 and 25' (Fig. 2) so that the jaws are free to move in unison for a limited distance to one side or the other of the supporting frame. Thus, if the strike should not when installed be alined exactly with the catch, both jaws will nevertheless operate with an equalizing action to exert a gripping force on the strike (Fi 6).

While the improved catch is especially designed for mounting in metallic cabinet doors of the double pan type so as to be concealed substantially from view and present no undesirable obstruction upon the inner face of the door, it will be understood that the reverse arrangement may be employed and the catch mounted upon the cabinet frame with the strike upon the door. Also, the catch is applicable to door or frame members of wood as illustrated in Fig. 7. In such event, a separate mounting plate [6a. may be fastened to the door or other support in overlying relation to a recess 28, the frame of the catch being inserted through an opening in the plate 16a, and retained in such opening in the manner above set forth.

Removal of the catch fromits mounting plate may be readily accomplished by means of a pointed instrument inserted through the hole 15 in the front plate I!) and into engagement with the positive locking fingers l8 and I8. By exerting a force upon the tool in the nature of a prying action, the locking fingers may be disengaged one at a time from behind the mounting plate and the catch removed. The manner in which the tool T may be inserted for this operation is illustrated in Fig. 4.

It will be seen that I have provided a catch which is simple in construction and. therefore susceptible of economical manufacture. But the ing relation to the edge of the opening. I claim as my invention:

1. A catch having a supporting frame comprising a side plate and a front plate for limiting movement of the side plate through a mounting member having a hole therein proportioned to conform substantially to the width of said plate, an elongated spring finger on said side plate movable into positive holding engagement with the mounting plate automatically as an incident to the forcing of the frame into its said limit position, and a second spring finger of a length somewhat greater than the length of the first mentioned finger so as to be frictionally engageable with the edge of the hole and mounting plate.

'2. A door catch comprising a U-shaped frame having spaced parallel side plates and an apertured front plate integral with the side plates and extending beyond the edges thereof, strikeengaging jaws pivotally supported in said frame, and means for releasably retaining said frame in a mounting plate having an opening dimensioned to receive the side plates of the frame, said means comprising a pair of spring fingers formed integral with each of the side plates, one having its free end offset from the plane of the side plate and spaced from the front plate a distance corresponding to the thickness of the mounting plate and adapted to engage with the inner face thereof in opposed relation to the front plate, the other one of said fingers projecting into the plane of the front plate and adapted to engage frictionally the side edge of the opening in the mounting plate.

3. A door catch comprising a U-shaped frame having laterally spaced side plates and an apertured front plate integral with the side plates and extending beyond the edges thereof, strike engaging jaws pivotally supported in said frame, and means for releasably retaining said frame in a mounting plate having an opening dimensioned to receive the side plates of the frame, said means comprising a pair of spring fingers formed integral with each of the side plates, one having its free end offset from the plane of the side plate and spaced from the front plate a distance corresponding to the thickness of the mounting plate and adapted to engage with the inner side thereof inopposed relation to the front plate, the other one of said fingers projecting into the plane of the front plate and adapted to engage frictionally the side edge of the opening in the mounting plate, the fingers of each pair being respectively disposed at diagonally opposite corners of said frame.

4. A catch having a supporting frame comprisinga pair'of side plates with means at one end .thereof for limiting movement of the frame through a mounting member having a hole therein of a size conforming substantially to the cross sec tional shape of the frame, and means on said side plates movable into positive holding engagement with the mountin plateautomatically as an incident to the forcing of the frame into its said limit position whereby to prevent reverse withdrawal of the frame from the said hole in the mounting plate, and other means on said frame yieldably held in frictional engagement with the hole in the mounting plate at least at one edge thereof to restrain lateral shifting movement of the frame relative to the mounting plate.

5. A catch comprising, in combination, a supporting frame having a pair of laterally spaced side plates and a front plate connecting said side plates, said frame being adapted to be assembled with a mounting plate having a hole therein dimensioned to correspond substantially to the cross sectional shape of the frame rearwardly of the front plate, and the front plate having portions engaging with the mounting plate to limit movement of the frame in one direction relative to said hole, and a plurality of spring fingers forced outwardly from the side plates so as to snap into position behind the mounting plate when the front plate is forced into position against the mounting plate, strike-engaging jaws pivotally mounted between said side plates, said front plate being apertured for the passage of a strike and the forward ends of said jaws terminating in spaced relation to the front plate so as to permit the insertion of a tool through the opening in the front plate and into engagement with said finger,

6. A catch comprising, in combination, a supporting frame having a side plate and a front plate, said catch being adapted to be installed in a mounting plate having a hole therein dimensioned to receive the side plate rearwardly of the front plate, and the front plate having portions engaging with the mounting plate to limit movement of the frame in one direction, and a spring finger forced outwardly from the side plate so as to snap into position behind the mounting plate when the front plate is forced into position against the mounting plate, strike-engaging jaws pivotally mounted between said side plates, said side plate having a slot at one side of the finger and said front plate being apertured for the passage of a strike and to permit the insertion of a tool into said slot for engagement with said finger.

EARL M. BORCHERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,662,422 Hodges Mar. 13, 1928 r 1,725,883 Recker Aug. 2'7, 1929 2,342,832 Borchers Feb. 29, 1944 2,376,325 Borchers May 22, 1945 

